Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector whom Jesus called to be one of his apostles. However, the Gospel written under his name we know for certain was completed in its final form around the year 80 AD and after his death. The author could have been a disciple of Matthew using a first draft compiled by the apostle? Most probably this Gospel was written in a Christian community comprising both Jewish and Greek converts, possibly at Antioch. It was a time deeply marked by conflict between Jews and Christians when the Jewish community - suffering terribly from the war with Rome that destroyed the nation - was reorganising itself under the direction of the Pharisees. They had only recently decided to exclude all Jews who believed in Jesus and were known to be members of a Christian community.

This Gospel assured the earliest Christians they had no reason to be troubled even if their own people reject them. The very fact that the Jewish community did not recognise its own Messiah resulted in the loss of its right to speak and to decided about God's promises. Matthew refers to numerous texts in the Old Testament to prove that Christians are the true heirs of the people of the covenant. In this perspective the whole history of Jesus is presented as a conflict, ending in a separation. The turning point corresponds with the end of chapter 13 where Jesus no longer speaks to the crowd, but to his disciples.

Matthew was impressed by the fact that Jesus, during his three years of ministry, presented himself most often as a preacher and teacher of scripture. He therefore insists on the words of Jesus, which are more numerous in his gospel than in the others.